feiniaonovel Chapter 724 - 723: Business and Progress
Chapter 724 - 723: Business and Progress
The silent operation of the constant temperature array shielded the chilly winds outside the castle. The decorative shields on the walls were polished to a shine, and the elegant, classical tapestries depicted symbols of heroes, non-human monsters, and gods. Scented incense crafted by fairies released a pleasant, subtle fragrance from copper incense burners. The glow of magic crystal lamps cascaded from the ceiling, spilling into the gilded teacups, where the liquid inside glimmered with a warm sheen.
Gray Elf Wennah picked up the teacup before her, gently swirling the distinct liquid, and the scattered light points reflected in her light eyes: "Goods from the Typhon Empire? This is indeed novel, but what exactly are they?"
"Textiles, primarily textiles, along with dyes and white crystals," Baldwin replied with a smile, "of excellent quality and abundant supply — our friends from the western plains tribes should like them."
"Aside from other things, I’m indeed quite interested in the textiles," Wennah raised her eyes, "May I see the samples?"
Baldwin stood up with a smile and nodded to the attendant nearby: "Of course, here they are — open it."
The attendant opened the wooden box containing the samples, and the guests from the tribal country of Augari curiously cast their gaze. Duke Baldwin personally stepped forward, took out a piece of white fabric from the box, and handed it to Gray Elf Wennah: "My lady, please take a look."
Wennah reached out to receive the fabric, scrutinizing it with anticipation and curiosity, but within seconds, her expectant expression turned into a mix of bewilderment and disappointment. After a brief silence, the tribe leader of the Gray Elves shook her head, frowning: "My friend, I was just praising human craftsmen for their creativity in the field of art... Now I find myself somewhat perplexed."
As she spoke, she raised her head, curious as she looked at Duke Baldwin: "If you’ll forgive my candor — is the distant Typhon Empire not skilled in craftsmanship? You must also see that although this fabric is durable, its weaving and patterns are completely devoid of taste. Even a novice apprentice could weave something like this, it..."
"Sixteen silver coins," Baldwin suddenly said.
"What?" Wennah was momentarily taken aback.
"Sixteen silver coins," Baldwin smiled, gently patting the wooden box beside him, "a total of one hundred and sixty yards."
Gray Elf Wennah’s ears couldn’t help but twitch: "...Are you joking?"
"When I quoted you the price for alchemical potions last time, you wore the same expression and said similar words," Baldwin shook his head, sitting back in his high-backed chair, his expression becoming serious, "This is the actual price — as you can see, although these fabrics lack taste in their weaving and design, that’s because they were machine-woven. With current machine technology, only these kinds of fabrics can be produced. Admittedly, they’re not appealing to the upper aristocracy, but from a price perspective... they’re sure to be very popular among the middle-class and common folk."
"Machines... this isn’t the first time I’ve heard that word," Wennah’s expression of surprise and disappointment had vanished, replaced by contemplation, "If they are machine-made, I understand the price, but I have a question — even if they are machine-made, you still have to transport these textiles from the distant Typhon to the western border. After such a long journey, are these items still so affordable? In my understanding, even just transporting a stone from your eastern part to the west would incur significant costs."
"We are building new roads. Brand new transportation technology will enable the rapid transit of bulky goods — of course, even so, transportation costs do exist. These fabrics’ profits are very, very thin, but the Franklin family has always sought long-term business partners; selling in volume with small margins is our operating principle, which you should be aware of."
Duke Baldwin spoke with an earnest smile, his expression sincere and gentle.
Gray Elf Wennah looked at Baldwin’s smile, remaining silent for a couple of seconds before speaking: "Your sincerity in business is truly commendable... So, what you’re saying is that you’re merely transporting the cheap fabric Typhon sold to you to the west and then selling it to us... This is quite different from the previous alchemical potions."
"The essence of trade is converting distance into profit, and transportation comes at a cost," Baldwin nodded, "But regardless, I would believe these fabrics would still generate considerable value in your hands, as... setting aside taste, their quality is still excellent and well worth the price."
The gray elf’s eyes narrowed slightly, a habitual gesture as she pondered.
"Elves cherish art, and intricacy and taste are elements we highly value," after several seconds of thought, she slowly opened her eyes, the light hue gleaming within them, "My friend, without a doubt — gold coins are the most tasteful thing in this world."
"That fits your personal style very well — and mine too," Baldwin’s smile widened, "Then, if all goes well, we can officially begin accepting textile orders next spring, with specific quantities to be discussed further. Alchemical potions will follow the supply schedule previously agreed upon, unaffected by textile orders. As for the settlement..."
"Half gold coins, half in food and medicinal materials," Wennah proactively offered, "Our king has agreed to your request, and we are aware of the troubles the Cecil Empire faces. As old friends, we’re happy to help — the first food order will arrive at the border before winter."
"Convey my thanks to the king of the gray elves on my behalf," Baldwin stood up and spoke sincerely, "We will not forget every help from friends."
Wennah rose and returned his gesture, then looked to another box: "So, these must be other samples?"
"Yes, allow me to show you all..."
...
The sun’s brilliance gradually descended towards the west, and the increasingly radiant twilight began to spread along the clouds covering the earth. Nameless birds chirped against the backdrop of clouds and sky, hurrying back to their nests. Wennah, departing from the castle, raised her hand to brush aside the strands of hair on her forehead, glancing back at the classically luxurious castle of the Franklin clan.
"What a huge business deal..." the gray elf softly murmured to herself.
The Red Valley person walking beside her couldn’t help but frown: "They’re definitely making more profit."
Wennah shook her head: "When doing business, don’t focus on how much others make. No one goes into business intending to lose money."
The cultured human spoke up: "But still, the price of those fabrics is astonishing. After such a long transport, how can they still be so affordable... It’s hard to imagine how cheap they were when the Typhon Empire exported them to Cecil."
"Indeed... it’s really hard to imagine..." Wennah turned her head again, her gaze sweeping over the centuries-old castle.
Artisans were busy on the platform by the side of the castle, installing an enigmatic magical device whose purpose was unclear. The device featured a metal base and a massive crystal.
Truly an ancient castle, it felt almost as ancient as the land itself.
Yet she faintly sensed that something young and new was burgeoning on this land.
Goods from the distant East, from the other side of the continent... What a long journey it must have been.
...
Baldwin Franklin stood at the window of the reception room, watching as the guests from the tribal country of Augari boarded their carriage, gradually disappearing around the bend in the road, before he finally looked away.
A young man dressed in a royal blue coat, with a gold pin on his chest, walked into the room and stood respectfully behind Baldwin. "Father."
"Elywen," Duke Baldwin turned around, showing a gentle smile to his eldest son, "I could tell by your expression that you seemed to have questions while listening in from the next room."
The young man named Elywen stood straight. Recently reaching adulthood, he was still accustomed to following his father’s every teaching but had already formed many of his own thoughts and questions. "Yes, Father—why did you immediately admit that those fabrics came from Typhon?"
Baldwin quietly looked at his eldest son, "Why not be honest?"
"... You taught me that when able to monopolize a supply, keeping the supply channels secret is an important means to maintain the monopoly and ensure profits. We’re essentially just reselling textiles imported from Typhon to the tribal country of Augari, but if we don’t disclose this, they’ll remain unaware, allowing us to increase the prices—But now, the gray elves know the origin of those textiles, and they will eventually determine the approximate price of Typhon’s exported textiles. Cost transparency is the greatest taboo in business..."
Baldwin patiently waited for the young man to finish, then shook his head, "That you can think of such things shows you have seriously learned what I taught, but thinking only this far shows you’ve only scratched the surface.
"Firstly, we aim for a lasting business, especially when dealing with nations. Such business requires stability rather than temporary windfalls. The gray elves are not an isolated people; they will eventually learn the source of those textiles. Although, from a business standpoint, keeping supply channels secret isn’t considered deceptive, if we manipulate prices excessively, we will eventually damage our trade partners’ trust, thereby harming future business.
"Secondly, even if I disclose the source, we needn’t worry about losing the business because Cecil is the only trade route maintaining East-West trade in the northern parts of the continent. To our south lies the Gondor Wasteland, to the north plains, mountains, and the cold winter. For Typhon Empire’s trade goods to reach the tribal country of Augari, our route is the only pathway—unless the gray elves or elves find a way to break through the ocean blockade and restart the northern circumnavigation route.
"Thirdly, and most importantly: do you think our emperor had me sell those goods to the tribal country of Augari at near-zero profit merely to sell textiles?"
The young duke’s son was momentarily perplexed, then quickly appeared thoughtful.
Baldwin Franklin laughed, shaking his head, "What we truly want to sell is the railway."
Elywen’s eyes widened.
Baldwin’s gaze shifted from his eldest son to a shelf not far away, where a gift from Emperor Gawain Cecil, presented before he left St. Soniel, was placed.
A model of the first cargo magic train.
Exquisitely crafted, it was a lifelike creation from the imperial grand artificer, Saint Nicholas Egg.
Yet this model was so peculiar, so lacking in apparent use or ’artistic value,’ that Gray Elf Wennah’s attention was solely drawn to its ostentatious magical design, failing to notice this true symbol of the imperial era.
But he believed it wouldn’t be long before the kings of the tribal country of Augari took notice.
"Elywen, perhaps I’ve been too fixated on molding you into someone like myself, ignoring your true strengths and interests."
"Father?" The young duke’s son was surprised, followed by a touch of anxiety, "Father, I haven’t..."
"Do not be nervous, child," Baldwin shook his head. "You still make me proud, but now you must advance to keep pace with the era being shaped by the emperor. Magic guide technology, trains, the magic web broadcast, alchemical industry... The new era has many new things, and even the teachers in the castle and scholars on the land cannot comprehend them, let alone teach you.
"The West is too far from the center of the Empire, far from new technologies and knowledge, and also far from the real ’civilized society.’
"We cannot sit and wait for civilized society to arrive but must actively engage with it.
"The emperor is constructing more educational facilities in the imperial capital, Cecil Castle, and building a new Imperial Academy. I have ordered the selection of five hundred intelligent youths from the entire West regardless of background to pursue their studies — you shall go too, as the head of the study group, to the south. The era of the old nobility has ended. Though the Franklin family is no longer the direct rulers of this land, you still bear the responsibility of securing benefits for the land and its people.
"I believe the Ice and Snow Duchess in the north is doing the same thing — we are never ones to lag behind."
Elywen quietly met the gaze of the Duke of the West and only after a long while did he bow deeply: "Yes, Father."